Were you ever intimidated by a large class size?

[AutumnOlive]

It seems like nursing and large class sizes go hand in hand. I find it rather intimidating. From my point of view, I think that college is an educational experience that you are paying for. When you are stuck in a class with around 300 students, you professor has no choice but to divide their attention. It takes a toll on your learning, as I have learned in the past.

Now I'm very intimidated by large classes like that, and I was wondering how other people cope with that.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

I loved the large lectures in college... there were so many people, teachers didn't notice if you weren't there.

Now, hardly any of my nursing classes were that big- the biggest was around 90 students and since we were split up into 2 sections beginning sophomore year, most classes were around 40-50.

[emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Large classes are generally 100 level intro courses. These are basically lectures where there's not a whole lotta interaction between the prof & students. That should change as you progress through the program with classes getting smaller & more personal.

Does depend on your program so I could be wrong.

Personally, as a undergrad, I tended to blow off lecture type large classes freshman year & just show up for tests & to hand in assignments. C = degree.

[AutumnOlive]

I wonder if it because of my city. My city has a population of about 250,000. So maybe that's why.

And it's true that they don't notice if you don't show up, but I think that this is a disadvantage to the student. In college, you wouldn't be punished anyways if you didn't show up, so it is only going to hurt the student if they skip classes. And when a teacher is unable to recognize when students are skipping out, it only means that your presence in the class is rather unnoticeable to the teacher so I would question whether they are able to give enough attention to the students, teaching wise.

[Racer15, BSN, RN]

I loved the large lectures in college... there were so many people, teachers didn't notice if you weren't there.

Now, hardly any of my nursing classes were that big- the biggest was around 90 students and since we were split up into 2 sections beginning sophomore year, most classes were around 40-50.

Heck yeah!! That is why I loved my large lectures, lol. Although my chemistry professor got wise and used those little remote controls to give quizzes every morning, so we had an attendance grade. If you have big classes and just feel like a number, go to your professor's office hours. My freshman year chemistry professor was the best out of the department, she would have students show up to her lectures that weren't even enrolled in her classes. I was a regular in her office outside of class, and she came to know me by name.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

In college you have more responsibility for your own learning; it matters less if your faculty is able to " give enough attention to the students, teaching wise" than in high school. I tell people often that if they have problems to go see their faculty members. That's when you get the special attention you seek. Otherwise, it's more cost-effective to have large classes for many subjects, with sections for smaller group discussions if needed.

My freshman year anatomy class was in a lecture hall of 700. Loved it. No distractions from others around me, just focused on the screen and the lecturers.

Later nursing classes lend themselves more to the Socratic method of guided discussion in smaller groups; you will find this in learning lab sections and clinical conferences.

[RubberDuckieLove]

Im honestly more intimidated by my small class size than the larger classes I have taken before. We have 12 people in our nursing class..... 12!! I absolutely love it, but it is stressful when my instructor starts shooting out questions!

[julz68]

Im honestly more intimidated by my small class size than the larger classes I have taken before. We have 12 people in our nursing class..... 12!! I absolutely love it but it is stressful when my instructor starts shooting out questions![/quote']

Our last semester dwindled down to 9 students and 8 of us graduated! But our class was a night & weekend program for nontraditional nursing students who had to work and/or had families. With a class that small, we were, in a sense, a family as well. Loved the small class size! Much easier to stand up and do presentations, especially if you have a fear of public speaking like myself. :)